Land and water boat.



A. G. GUMMINGS. LAND AND WATER BOAT. APILIOATION FILED DBO.18,1908. 919,829, Y Patented Apr. 27, 1909;

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

III Il Il llll` A. G. GUMMINGS. LAND AND WATER BOAT. l APPLICATION FILED DBO. 18,1908. 91 9,829., l Y- Patented Apr. 27, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Jam 294mm?" A. G. GUMMINGS. LAND AND WATER BOAT.

y l APPLICATION FILED DEO. 13, 1908.

Patentd Apr, 27, 1909 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3. LZ?. L? y HII A ff'ff'" "lill npentoz UNITED srATns -rArENT orrron.

ALBERT-e. Vorni'n/nNers r Urrea rAX'roN TOWNSHIP, DAUPHIN COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

vLAND AND WATER BOAT.

Patented lApril 27, i909.

` Application vfiled December 18, 1908. SeraI-No..468,190v.

Be it knovvn'that'l, ALBERT'G. CUMMINGS, 1a 'citi:en of the United lStatestand a resident of UpperPaXton township, county ,of Dauphin? and State` of flennsylvania, have Vinvented 'certain nevvpan l'useful Improvements .in- Land. andi lyaterl Boats, of j which To all 'whom it may concern;

the following isalspecificationr:

` This invention relates toimprovenients in land and Water boats and' the 'object of theV invention is yto provide a boatin Which the main or'driving shaft or shafts are so located that the center: of gravity issoniewhat' below 'said'driving shaft or shafts and thatv the bearings ortheseshafts areY so disposed that they carry the lWeight,near the center ofthe rnain wheels,"- y.ve..,thj,e bearings for the `shafts 'are adjacent fthel hubs 'of the wheels,a`nd. saidjhubsfare preferably a little to one side of the center ofthe wheels so that the hubs and said'bearingscontact ata line drawn substantially throughthe .center of the Wheels;

In the dravvings accompanying and forni-- Another point is to use largesiaedwheels which provlde anv excess ofbuoyancy, facilitate speed, and valso'perrnit access' to Water y tight compartments thereinel Anot-herfea# .ture of the wheels i" i that 'e'.vveb is formed. outside of 4the VWater `Ltight,:compartments whichis rather extended injfdepth so as to protect the shell ofgsaidjvater-tight compartments and also serve to, prevent the said compartments from receiving serious injury or puncture by impact with` rocks When the boat is use d in shallow Water.V

Other points will be hereinafter 'more fullyv described.

ing fpart hereof, {figur l side elevation 'ofl a boat Iconstructedillflmdance W1th my invention. F ig. 2'is.toptplanj,l vienT of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse/section,through the rudder Wheel and lits turntable. yFignlt f y is a transverse section of one-of the main wheels, its axle, etc. Fig, 5 is adetail showing part of the periphery of-one of the large` Wheels. lFig' is ,a sectionofthe tread of the ,Wheels Fig. 71s.., sectional detail shovyiiig ,an auxiliary `sui-11jfor'tlfnol the wheels. Referring now to thedetails ofthe drawingsy by numerals: ,1i andxfQ` lrepresent the main ordrivin Wheels and v@the,srnalleror i, rudder wheeht ejwheels 1, andf'being preteV erably arranged at opposite sides-at kthe front of the boat and ,the smaller o rlrudder wheel at the rear' of" the 'boat,.and lnvactua-l construction I prefer that the parts shall be so arranged and organized thatV the two larger Wheels shall each sustain 40% of the load while the rudder Wheelshall sustain 20S/. of the load; thus the load is divided into ve parts, one part on the rudder Wheel and two parts on each of the main or drivingvvheels.

AThe'rnain or driving Wheels are formed of peculiar construction and I prefer to describe the rest of the structure before describing lthe detailsrofthese Wheels. For thepresent it is only necessary to state that they are provided with hubs 6 which are keyed to and drivenfroln Shafts' 8 and 9. These shafts may be driven in any desirable Way and ifdes'ired they maybe connected together by clutches although I vprefer the form shown in the drawings inWhich each shaft is. driven from independent motors or engines 11 and 12 Which are vshown merely in conventional form in Fig. 2. VAs

-shown in said ligure` the two shafts 8 and 9 lare each provided With a sprocket Wheel 14ev andthese .sprocket Wheels are connected by chains 15 with other sprocket Wheels 16 on the engines or motors 11' and'lQ but as'stated any other construction may. replace these, althoughI prefer them for the reason that the driving `Wheels may thus beindependently driven and in the event that it is necessary to turn rapidly one Wheel may be driven in one directlon Whilethe 'other may be driven in the' opposite' direction.

The vplatform orgdeck of my'boat is designated by thenumeral 18 and by inspection of Figs. l and 4 it Will be observed that this deck ls'below the driving shafts 8 and 9 so that thecenter of gravity is somewhat below said shafts. Lt will also be observed that the v platform-or deck 18 is hung from said shafts and is supported on the shafts by ineansof .i uprights 20 extending from a transverse benin 21- havingbearings 2'2 and 23 at their upper ends. i :It will bewobserved that the bearing 22. is `Withinthe center of the driv ,ing.-\'vli c`els .and I deem thisfa feature' o f considerable@:importance since'fithe straln or ,leverfageqon the driving shaftl `is therefore practically at `.the center of-fthe Wheels wherebyfthe strain on the axles is reduced to a mlniinuin.- To this end, the hubs 6 of the driving AWheels are` located slightly to one 'siderpfthe centerof said Wheels so that the' Y, said -liubs` and vrthe, bearings `22k Contact substantially in a line drawnthrough the center y ments ext-ending all round the of said wheels; thus the leverage on said driving shafts amounts to practically nothing. Each of the main shaftsl or axles 8 and 9 also extends through the hub 6 and its end is further connected by diagonal stay braces 24 which assist the spokes 25 in properly supporting the main or driving wheels l and 2. These stay braces however do not relieve the main driving shafts ,of the strain since the leverage is between the point where the shafts are su ported by the bearings 22 and the hub 6 an as these bearings 22 and hub 6 are substantially in the center of .the wheel, as before stated, the leverage at this point is reduced Vto a negligible quantity.

The spokes 25 which have just been referred to are connected to webs or flanges27- projecting inwardly from the Wheels l and 2 and-beyond this point the wheels are provided with a series of water tight compartwheel and forming the major part thereof, these compartments being' siiown in Fig. 4 as radially `disposed and are also indicated in* dotted lines in Fig. l. In the form shown in Fig. 4 these water tight compartments are preferablysix-sided and the inner angular side 30 (as indicated in Fig. 4) of each compartment is provided with a man-hole plate 32 to provide access to each compartment. It will be noticed that these man-hole plates all face the interior of the wheel and are so locatcdthat they may be accessible from the deck or platform in case any attention is necessary in the event of leaks, punctures or' dents. These'water tight compartments are also provided with angular peripheries as indicated at `34 and 35. and the compartments join each other so that they form a practically continuous periphery around the outside' of the wheel and I prefer to form the angular peripheries 34 and 35 ,on the angle shown in Fig. 4 for reasons to be explained. Project-ing from the apex of the angular peripheries 34 and 35 is a web 37 which extends around the entire wheel and I prefer to form this web of considerable depth so that when the boat is in rather shallow water the web serves as a means of rotecting the water tight compartments rom serious damage or puncture should the wheel come in Vcontact with any `rocks. Further- 'more, another advantage accrues from the use of the slanting sides 34 and 35 in thatA should the wheels strike against any rocks the slanting sides will make it possible for the wlieels to slide olf of the rocks and thus prevent any damage. Blades 36 are also provided' projecting radially and laterally andl these act not only to prevent the slipping of the wheels in the water, but also as a strengtheningineans connecting the webs 37 and the outer shell of the Water tiglt compartments.' The water tight compartments may also be braced' laterallyas shovrini 1n annular tread 40 which dott-ed lines in Fig. 1. The web 27 as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 is also provided with an as indicated in Fig. 5 is preferably made in sections and bolted to the web 37. This rovides astructure which makes the wheel especially adapted for'use on shore when it 1s necessary and owing to the fact that the treads are formed in section, they' may be easily removed for sea going purposes. In or er to further support the wheels and relieve the main or driving shafts of what slight leverage there may be thrown upon them, I also provide on the interiorl of the driving wheels an Iinwardly projecting flange 45. As will be seen in Fig.'4 this fiange is annular and rojects entirely around the Wheel and as illustrated in Fig. 7 this flange coacts with two antifriction rollers 46 and 47 Which are supported upon a bracket `48 projecting from thel deck o r platform as illustrated in Fig. 2. This construction relieves the axle of considerable strain althoughit is not absolutely necessary when the bearings for the driving `shafts are formed directly next to the hub illustrated in Fig. 4. These will be found especially useful in assin through rough water where they will relieve the axles ofv any thrust thrown upon the wheels by the side waves coming in contact with the sides of the wheels.

While the steering wheel or wheels of my boat may be like those ofany other boat of this class, I much prefer the arrangement shown in Fics. l, 2 and 3 in which the steering whee is supported by an axle which in. turn (is journaled in a turn table and l will. new describe this construction. At the rear of the deck oi' platform I provide a turn table 50 which is supported by an axle or shaft 5l projecting through the rudder wheel 3 before referred Ato and which is journaled in standards 52 projecting downwardly from the turn table. I may here mention that this rudder wheel is also provided with radial air tight compartments and is located within a housing,r 53 projecting upwardly from the turn table 50. The turn vtable itself, which it will be recalled is supported by the rudder wheel 3, supports the rear end of the platform or deck 18, the said platform or deck being provided with a setof greoved rollers into which projectsl the tial; rim 56 of the aforesaid turn tablel 50. It will thus he vseen that these grooved rollers 55 permit the turn table to be turned with respect to the platform or deck 18 and that, inasmuch as the shaft 5l. of' the rudder wheel 3 is journaled in the turn table, said rudder wheel turns Isimultaneously with the turning of the turn table. This turn table may be rotated in any desirable way but I prefer to employ a downy Wardly projectinoa iiange 60 which has lugs (S1/turned upwardly therefrom so as to pro- 5G may be provided with a' 6G which projects overv and surrounds -propellei-S, substantially as vide-a. means of supporting` the rudder chain or cable 63 as indicated in Fig. 3,- .thischain or cable 63 passing, as indicatedin. Fig. 2, up to the steering wheel 65. AThe turn table suitable. housing .the saine and forms a. housing which.k rotates therewith. j y n f From the fore oing descriptionwandjthe accompanying drawings, itwillvbe seen that l have provided a boat which may be used on land or water, and that it is of such construction as to provide the, maximum of' buoyancy and strength; -that the weight is carried below the main or driving Shafts, and the str-ain or leverage on the said Adriv` ing shafts is reduced to a minimum. It. is obvious that changes may be made withoutcdeparting from the spirit of I ny in. vention the scope of which is set fort by the appended claims.A j What. l claim as my invention is:`

1. In a, device of the ycharacter described, buoyant propellers, an axle or shaftl there. for, a deck or platform carried by said axle or shaft, and bearings for said shaft carried by said deck or platform, said bearings extending within the facesof said buoyant described. 2. In a device of the character described, buoyant propellers, an axle or shaft there-v for, a deck or platform carried by said 'axle or shaft, hubs for said buoyant propellers located slightly to one side axially of the center of said propellers, `and bearings for lsaid shaft, said bearings and said hubs being located so that the center line of said buoyant propeller-sv is substantially between the saine, whereby the strain -on the axle is reduced to a minimum, substantiallyas described. ln a device of the character described, buoyant propellers, an axle'o'rshaft utherefor, a deck or platform carried by said/*axle or sh a ft, bearings for ,said .said deck or platform, a bracing device also carried b fsaid deck or platform and having an anti-friction roller coacting with .said buoyant propellers to sustain side pressure, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the character described, buoyant propellers having a series of coinpartments, an annular web projecting'from the outer wall of said com artments, 'and the exterior faces of the saidp compartments being angularly disposed, substantially as described. l In a device of the character buoyant propellers havin a series of compartments, an annular we projecting from the outer wall of said compartments, the exterior faces of the said compartments being angularly dis 'josedand` asectional annular` rim detachab y connected to said web, substantially .as described.

described, i

, posed,A a Web .projecting thereof,and spokes projecting from the in- Yterior' thereof, substantially as described.

vsupported by said turn tab e shaft carried by i 6. In a. device of lthe character. described,

vr,buoyantfprope'llers :comprising a series of "radially arranged 'compartments forming an lannular buoyant Y part of the propeller, the exterior walls thereof being angularly dise from the exterior;

7." I ii adevice of the character described, byonaiit propellers comprising a series of radially arranged compartments forming an annular buoyant part/of the propeller, the exteriorwalls thereof being angularly disposed, a web projecting from the exterior thereof, spokes projecting from the interior thereof, a rim secured to said web, and. blades projectinor radially fromv said web and angularlyl disposed walls of the coinpartments, substantially as described.

8. In adevice of the character described,

axle or shaft ofsaid rudder Wheel is journaled, said turn table being over said rudder wheel and supported thereby and a platform or 4deck supported by said turn table, substantially as described.

9. In a device of the character described, a rudder wheel, a turn table supported there by in which the axle or shaft of saidrudder wheel is journaled, anda latform or 'deck having a hous. ing projecting upwardly therefrom and incasing said rudder Wheel, said housing being. of substantially the same shape as the upper part of the Wheel and rotatin v,with .said turn table, substantially as descri ed.

10. ln a. device of the character described, a .rudder wheel, a turn table supported thereby and rotatable therewith, a-'deck or platform supported by said turn table, and grooved'r'ollers journaled on said platforir orv deck and having the periphery of thevturn table projecting into their grooves, substantially as described. l

ll. In a device of the character described, a. rudder' Wheel, ay turn table supported thereby and'forined of a. substantially flat circular plate haring a housingl projecting there- .from an incasingr said rudder wheel, said turn table and said housing being rotatable together, a platform or deck, and groovcd rollers carried by said platform or deck, the peripheryy of said substantially flat turn table entering the grooi'es in said rollers a rudder Wheel, a turn table in which the andjbeing supported therein, substantially as described.

12. In a device of the character described,

l.a rudder Wheel, a turn table supported tlierca plat-form or deck supported -byvsaid turn 12.5

.gli p f 919,829

'13. lfn a device of the character described,

a ru dder wheel, a turn table supported thereby und having a flangeprojectlng therefrom,

a platform 0r. deck supportedby said turn tableVasteerin Wheel on said platform or deck, anda cl `in or cable passing around the Harige of said turn tableand leading to said steering `Wheel, said flange lhaving ireane for ho ding thecable in position, sub* le sautially as described.

Ll. In a device of the character described,

a rudder Wheel, a vturn table supported thereby and formed of a substantially flat circular plate having' a .housing projectin 2.3 therefrom and incasing said rudder Whee said turn table havimr a flange projecting therefrom and said table and said housing being rotatable together, a platform or deck, grooved rollers on said platform co-acting with said flat turn table, a steering Wheel also gf on said platform or deck, and a chain or cable passing around the flange of said turn table and leading to said steering Wheel, substantially as described.

Signed by me at Washington, D. C., this 25 17th day of December 1908.

ALBERT Gr. CUMMINGS. Vitnesses S. C. HILL,

Trios. E. ROBERTSON. 

